Senior External Relations Manager

About the Department

The Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) is an international, not-for-profit research and development (R&D) organization. Together with more than 200 public research and industry allies worldwide, we use the power of partnership, innovation, open science, and advocacy to develop and deliver new treatments for neglected diseases that disproportionately impact millions of the world’s poorest people. 

About the Office

This position is remote and located in the United Kingdom (UK)

Overview

The Senior Manager, External Relations leads the development, cultivation and stewardship of major public funding partnerships, with a particular focus on the UK funding landscape, with extension to other regional markets. The role contributes to DNDi's long-term financial sustainability through strategic fundraising, partnership development, donor stewardship, and external representation.

The role serves as focal point for DNDi’s engagement within the UK funding, policy, research, and innovation ecosystem. Drawing on a strong understanding of UK government priorities, research and innovation institutions, and global health stakeholder networks, the Senior Manager cultivates relationships with key partners, influencers and champions to advance DNDi's objectives. The postholder will show aptitude to extend these competencies beyond the UK market.

As a senior fundraising specialist, the postholder manages complex and strategically important donor partnerships, requiring a high degree of stakeholder engagement, coordination, and relationship management. The postholder coordinates senior-level engagement, identifies opportunities for collaboration and partnership growth, and ensures alignment between donor priorities and DNDi's strategic objectives.

Responsibilities

Strategic Fundraising and opportunity generation

• Develop engagement strategies to cultivate influential champions, advocates, and strategic partners that can support DNDi's resource mobilization goals.
• Lead the development of high-quality funding proposals and strategic concept notes, coordinating cross-functional teams to ensure compelling, evidence-based submissions that align donor priorities with DNDi's strategic objectives.

External Representation and Strategic Partnerships

• Represent DNDi with government, research and policy stakeholders to strengthen organizational visibility and influence, with primary focus in the UK.
• Cultivate and manage relationships with key partners, coalitions, PDPs, research institutions, policy makers and policy platforms, and sector influencers.
• Design and coordinate strategic engagement activities, events and communications that enhance DNDi's positioning.
• Lead fundraising contributions to impact, investment case, and evidence-generation initiatives, and develop compelling donor-facing narratives and value propositions tailored to priority audiences.

Donor Stewardship and Partnership Management

• Lead stewardship and engagement strategies of strategically important and complex donor partnerships, ensuring coordinated outreach, high-quality relationship management and long-term partnership development.
• Maintain a deep understanding of partner priorities and decision-making processes, identifying opportunities for collaboration and investment.
• Coordinate senior-level donor interactions, reporting, reviews and partnership initiatives that support retention and growth.

Strategic Planning and Institutional Expertise

• Provide specialist advice to senior management on donor trends, funding opportunities, partnership risks, and strategic positioning, with specific knowledge of the UK government policy and Research and Innovation landscape. Demonstrate ability to apply this acumen to other regional markets.
• Prepare strategic donor intelligence, funding analyses, policy and analytical briefs for the Executive Director and Senior Management Team.
• Define strategy for fundraising and engagement in the UK and other regional markets and contribute to departmental strategy.
• Contribute to organizational strategic planning processes and support implementation of strategic initiatives relevant to fundraising and external relations.
• Contribute to internal cross-functional workstreams requiring fundraising expertise.

Team Leadership and Management

• Manage staff, consultants and external collaborators, ensuring effective performance, resource planning and delivery of fundraising objectives.
• Foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing across fundraising, R&D, advocacy, communications and other functions.
• Contribute to departmental and organizational management processes and forums.

Reporting line & Interactions

Senior Manager, External Relations reports to the Head of External Affairs, Public Donors.

Interactions

• Collaborates closely with External Relations team members and other internal teams as relevant for donor engagement and stewardship objectives.
• Coordinates internal team members with relevance and stakeholder networks in the UK, and other regional markets.
• Manages at a senior/expert/functional level in a given field of partners. Represent DNDi with partners from projects, with main donor contacts, and with external stakeholders who are influential/experts in the same domain of work.

Experience and Education

• Master’s degree, or equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience, in international development, public health, political science, international relations, business, or a related field.
• Significant experience securing and managing major institutional and government funding partnerships.
• Proven experience leading complex fundraising, partnership or external relations functions.
• Demonstrated experience working with government donors, research funders, multilateral organizations, foundations, or global health stakeholders.
• Experience managing staff, consultants, projects, and complex stakeholder relationships.
• Demonstrated success representing an organization with senior donor, research or policy stakeholders.
• Experience working effectively in complex multicultural team environment and matrix structure
• Minimum 8 years relevant experience with at least 5 years at the managerial level.
• People/Project Management training is necessary.

Skills and competencies

Critical Skills

• Advanced expertise in fundraising, donor relations, partnership development and resource mobilization.
• Strong strategic, analytical and stakeholder-management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and secure major funding opportunities and lead complex initiatives.
• Excellent writing, communication, negotiation and influencing skills.
• Strong project, people and partner-management capabilities.
• Ability to think creatively and operate independently.
• High independence in programme delivery and exploring new opportunities.

Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of the UK government, research, and innovation landscape, including key institutions, funding mechanisms, policy priorities, and decision-making processes relevant to global health and international development.
• Ability to identify, analyze, and respond to emerging policy, funding, and stakeholder opportunities.

Other requirements

• Fluency in English
• Proficiency in local languages desirable
• Very good knowledge of Microsoft Suite

Other information

Status: Full time – Permanent role

To apply

• Deadline for application: 15 November, 2026
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted 
• Application submission for this position may close early if we have enough suitable applicants

DEI Statement

DNDi is committed to building a diverse, equitable and truly inclusive organisation. Our success and global reach are dependent upon our ability to encourage diversity and draw on the skills, understanding and experience of all our people. We particularly welcome applications from those who are underrepresented in at DNDi and across the sector, especially women, and including, but not limited to, black and minority ethnic candidates, and those with other protected characteristic.